Monday 12 March 2012

No.32 Take a ride on an open top bus tour in London

The Lion of London


I have visited London many many hundreds of times, and generally choose the option of walking everywehere, as there is just so much to see and I don't want to miss any of it.  However, I have often wondered what it wouild be like to ride a bus around the city centre, to view the city from a new persepctive.  My "40 things before I am 40" challenge list was the ideal opportunity to turn this long running curiosity into a real event.   So, one day in the middle of the summer 2011, I joined my parents and my sister and headed off to London for the day.

Before long we found a tour bus and jumped on board.  The sun was high and it was a very hot day, so was perfect for sitting on the open tuop deck (actually, it was so hot that we were running the risk of gettign sun burned). 

The journey began and we headed along the winding streets, down the lanes, over the bridges and through the gates.  There was a tour guide on board who gave a running commentary about some of the history of the city.  He had a very dry sense of humour and had us laughing out loud on a number of occasions.

What amazed me most, was how you really do see a location totally differently when you view it from a different angle.  I made note of some of the places that we travelled past that I hadn't seen before, so that I would remember to visit them on foot sometime in the future.  One of the magical things about London is that, no matter how many times you go there, you will always discover something new with each journey.

Below are some of the photographs that I took on the tour.








The Statue of Eros in Picadilly Circus


Trafalgar Square

A view of the London Eye from Westminster Bridge

A view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from Westminster Bridge


The London Eye

The Royal Waterloo Hospital for Women and Children

A view of the London Eye with the Houses of Parliament in the distance

The Royal Court of Justice

A dragon guarding the city of London

St Pauls Catherdral

A View of Towerr Bridge from the River Thames

Westminster Abbey


Well that ends another amazing challenge on my list of "40 things to do before I am 40".

11 comments:

  1. I visit london on a regular basis and I have never ever thought to take a tour on an open top bus! I always see them, but I have never thought "I must do that" - but omg you got some great photos! Last time I visited the city I stayed in one of the serviced apartments london has to offer right near convent garden. I always take my camera with my wherever I go so I got some great shots of convent garden whilst people watching!

    How much was the tour out of interest if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like alot of fun :)

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  3. London is nice place for ride on bus! Great read!

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